Newbie - Planning Stages!!

[grantforrest]

Hello all from sunny Scotland. Long time lurker on these forums - great information and great people by the looks of it! I have been to Orlando 3 times before - the last time was 3 years ago and itching to get back. There will be 2 adults and my son who will be aged 14 at the time of travel.

I'm hoping for some ongoing help for a trip that is very much in the planning stages - here is what I have so far.....

Looking to fly out on 1st April 2011 from Glasgow preferably but would consider a bit further afield if the deal was right.

First part of the holiday looking to stay at a Disney value hotel - not really fussed which one and then 2nd part of holiday looking at staying onsite at a Universal hotel. We stayed at RPR last time but quite fancy Hard Rock this time.

Also looking to rent a car and get theme park tickets.

So that above is what I need to do so I thought I would tackle the flights first and it seems I can go direct with Thomas Cook from Glasgow or there are a multitude of options for going indirect which we did last time and it didn't really work out for the best

What I am hoping to get from you lovely people here are pointers of where I should look for best flight deals, best accomodation deals and best ticket deals and also enjoy the banter along the way. I won't pretend to be the most knowledgeable when it comes to Disney but I can join in with the best of them!

Thanks for having me on board.

 

[Netty]

Welcome to the boards!
have a look at skyscanner.net for flights and virgin atlantic/virgin hols, first choice, kayak
how long are you planning to go for? as you also have travel city which do 2 weeks
Kenny usually has a weekly thread on here for tickets, depending on what you are looking for there is also orlandoattractions to look at to give you an idea on magic your way prices
Car rental- well you can try usrentacar or try expedia as they have cashback through quidco, also there is netflights to try + others that i cant think of right now!

 

[2Tiggies]

First:

WELCOME TO THE DIS!



I doubt Virgin is going to beat a Thomas Cook quote. TC fly to Sanford and VA fly to MCO. Since you will have a car, it won't make much difference to you. I can also tell you that VA only fly from Glasgow on a handful of days a year and they book up FAST!!! If you don't want indirect you can also look at FC/Thomsons. Try Edinburgh too - sometimes you get better deals from one airport than another for the same route. I prefer Edinburgh although GLA is closer.

We tried All Star Music last year and really enjoyed it. POP is another value resort which gets good reviews.

 

[2Tiggies]

Lol, I just had to comment on your opening line: SUNNY Scotland? You can't be anywhere near to where I am. I don't know I would recognise the sun if I saw it after all this time

 

[dixonsontour]

Hi welcome to the DIS!

Things are a bit quiet at the moment as alot of people are in Orlando or just back and recovering from the jetlag.

I'd start with trying to get a flight at a price you are willing to pay - prices have reached silly levels.

Disney US has just released offers for 2011 - might be worth pricing with them for a week in value.

 

[Pegasus928]

Hi - and welcome aboard.

As a PP said I do try and do a weekly thread that details some of the ticket deals that are out there at the time.
My latest one is HERE
It includes a list of companies that many on here have had a positive experience dealing with and would be happy to recommend to a friend.

 

[grantforrest]

Thanks for the very warm welcome folks! I have checked skyscanner as was suggested - we are looking at going for 2 weeks flying out 1st April and the cheapest flight coming up is with Thomas Cook for 3 adults works out at £1564 but then you have £105 for baggage allowance and £51 if you want meals.....does this sound like a good deal?

If at least I can get the flights booked I know I can "get" there!!

 

[lin85prest]

We always fly from Edinburgh but indirect as we like to go for 18 nights. This October £21600 with no extras.

The sun is shing here as well

 

[skelfbsfb]

Used Tc this year and they were very good, you could try dealchecker as well for flights and car hire. We used carhire3000 and they worked out about £100 cheaper than dollar. Its also very sunny here in Glasgow.

Am I the only one whos having problems with their signature, It doesnt appear on my laptop for some reason.

 

[VailaTigger]

Welcome from another Disney addict from SUNNY Scotland! Well, it is today.

We were out in WDW at the beginning of April this year, and we took a package deal with Virgin Holidays, and flew with Virgin Atlantic. They were great, but I know this isn't the cheapest way to do things!

Stayed at POP Century, and thought it was great, although the restaurant can get a bit chaotic and busy...

Will certainly help you if we can!

 

[grantforrest]

Flights are booked!!!!!!! Leaving 1st April (no joke) from Glasgow to Sanford with Thomas Cook. I checked all the comparison sites and as well as being direct was also the cheapest - so I decided to pull the trigger and let Mr Visa take the strain

 

[Netty]

Flights are booked!!!!!!! Leaving 1st April (no joke) from Glasgow to Sanford with Thomas Cook. I checked all the comparison sites and as well as being direct was also the cheapest - so I decided to pull the trigger and let Mr Visa take the strain

Brilliant!!!!! Let the planning begin!!!

 

[grantforrest]

Just the 1st piece in the jigsaw but it feels good

 

[scotlass]

Just the 1st piece in the jigsaw but it feels good

Hi.....

Glad you got your flights,I can offer a wee bit advice on values....yip Im a value lassie !!

We have stayed at All star Movies and POP and we loved them both.
POP would be our first choice because it is newer and the theming is very cool.


As for advice on Universal I would suggest you head over to the Universal side of the boards.
I post there alot and the advice is really great.

Oh, and it was sunny at ma bit the day !!

 

[grantforrest]

Ma bit lol - not heard that for ages.....am comin roond your bit...

Will have a look at the Universal boards as well doesn't appear to be any rates available for when I am going yet but no panic

 

[2Tiggies]

Just the 1st piece in the jigsaw but it feels good

Brilliant! You didn't mess around did you! You asked last night and today your flights are sorted!

Brilliant! Now we have another planner on board!

 

[grantforrest]

Brilliant! You didn't mess around did you! You asked last night and today your flights are sorted!

Brilliant! Now we have another planner on board!

I think I'm probably a bit early to look at some of the accommodation but I was thinking of purchasing theme park tickets now and potentiall avoid the VAT increase at turn of the year (that is if it applies to tickets!).

Someone in another thread mentioned about insurance - I better get that looked at as well

 

[2Tiggies]

I think I'm probably a bit early to look at some of the accommodation but I was thinking of purchasing theme park tickets now and potentiall avoid the VAT increase at turn of the year (that is if it applies to tickets!).

Someone in another thread mentioned about insurance - I better get that looked at as well

You cant buy your tickets for next year until next year as a means of locking in this year's prices. They have to be used before the end of the current year. You can buy tickets now at 2011 prices though, if you want to. I would wait until they do the 14 days for 7 promo, which they run quite often on Disney UK.

If you are going to buy US tickets, then you CAN buy them now as they dont expire until 14 days after the first day of use even if they are only used some years later. It is good to know that the tickets sold in the US and the UK are structured differently and have different terms of use. Kenny's ticket thread is a good place to get an idea.

 

[grantforrest]

I've noticed that on some sites the 2011 prices are the same as 2010 prices or maybe I am reading it wrong!

 

[2Tiggies]

I've noticed that on some sites the 2011 prices are the same as 2010 prices or maybe I am reading it wrong!

That will be true for the US sites as their tickets are not confined to a calendar year, as per my previous post. If it is UK websites you are looking at, I would double check with them if considering using those - the UK tickets are definitely only good for the calendar year. If you specifically buy a 2011 ticket and get it at this year's price, then good for you. Maybe someone else will have some advice on this but I would be very cautious as I don't know if there is any way of telling by looking at the ticket whether you have been sold a 2011 or 2010 one, aside from the price you pay. Also, to the best of my knowledge, UK tickets cannot be upgraded or changed.